The N.C. Board of Agriculture will hold its quarterly meeting Wednesday, March 17, at 2 p.m. via a Microsoft Teams meeting. To access the meeting, log in using this link PUBLIC LINK, or call 984-204-1487, then enter access code 297-749-399#.The board will take up the following items:
Press Releases
As North Carolina’s urban tree canopy declines, the need to continue to plant trees becomes even more important as the state joins in the recognition of Arbor Day.Established in 1872 as a tree-planting holiday, more than a million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day. Today, all 50 states, including North Carolina, and numerous countries around the globe recognize Arbor Day and its celebration of the planting, upkeep and preservation of trees.
The N.C. Agricultural Finance Authority Board of Directors selected Robert Hosford to serve as the finance agency’s executive director. Hosford replaces Stephanie Oxley, who has served in that role since 2015 and retired on March 1.“Robert understands North Carolina’s agricultural community, as well as agriculture on a national scale,” Troxler said. “This knowledge and experience will be a benefit to the Agricultural Finance Authority and the farmers that benefit from its services.”
WHO/WHAT:The N.C. Industrial Hemp Commission will hold a public meeting to review and approve research pilot program applications. WHEN/WHERE:Tuesday, March 162:30 p.m.
In North Carolina, March through May is historically recognized as spring wildfire season, a period when conditions are more favorable for wildfire. As residents begin working in their yards, the N.C. Forest Service urges them to think before burning yard debris.
Eastern:(Cumberland County) N.C. military veteran helps others follow him into farming
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler reminds growers that time is running out to apply for assistance through the USDA’s Quality Loss Adjustment Program. The deadline to apply is March 5.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler has announced the cancellation of the 2021 Got to Be NC Festival citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “We are making progress in the state getting people vaccinated against this deadly virus, but we still have a ways to go in these efforts before a larger percentage of the population is vaccinated,” Troxler said. “We want people to be able to come out and safely enjoy all the fun activities offered at the Got to Be NC Festival, but it doesn’t make sense at this time to try to hold this annual event.
The board of the Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation of North Carolina has set the 2021 boll weevil assessment at 75 cents per acre of cotton. The amount remains the same as in 2020. The fee supports the foundation’s efforts to monitor cotton acreage in North Carolina for any re-introduction of the boll weevil and to respond promptly with eradication treatments if necessary.
Agricultural Commissioner Steve Troxler honored longtime N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services employee Bill Yarborough by naming the Dupont State Recreational Forest Little River Access Bridge in his honor. Yarborough recently retired after 35 years of service in Western North Carolina.